Forward reference legal or illegal?

Name: bsC130419 Date: 05/15/2001


java version "1.3.0"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.3.0-C)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.3.0-C, mixed mode)

Please refer to JLS section 8.3.2.3(Restrictions on the use of fields during
initialization).Here a class UseBeforeDeclaration has been defined showing that
sometimes a forward reference is okay( variable x in the very first line)in a
static block as long as it is assignment only.

But the code does not compile even after commenting out the lined marked as
erroneous.The compiler says illegal forward reference.Here is the code...
class UseBeforeDeclaration {
static {
x = 100; // ok - assignment
int y = x + 1; // error - read before declaration
int v = x = 3; // ok - x at left hand side of assignment
int z = UseBeforeDeclaration.x * 2;
// ok - not accessed via simple name
Object o = new Object(){
void foo(){x++;} // ok - occurs in a different class
{x++;} // ok - occurs in a different class
     };
  }
{
j = 200; // ok - assignment
j = j + 1; // error - right hand side reads before declaration
int k = j = j + 1;
int n = j = 300; // ok - j at left hand side of assignment
int h = j++; // error - read before declaration
int l = this.j * 3; // ok - not accessed via simple name
Object o = new Object(){
void foo(){j++;} // ok - occurs in a different class
{ j = j + 1;} // ok - occurs in a different class
};
}
int w = x= 3; // ok - x at left hand side of assignment
int p = x; // ok - instance initializers may access static fields
static int u = (new Object(){int bar(){return x;}}).bar();
// ok - occurs in a different class
static int x;
int m = j = 4; // ok - j at left hand side of assignment
int o = (new Object(){int bar(){return j;}}).bar();
// ok - occurs in a different class
int j;
}
(Review ID: 124284)
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